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Second half of 2009 Notes:

For full article see previous entry in wordconnect.org or click here

Seeking ministry from the dead: Deut 18; 10, 11, “There shall not be found among you...a consulter with familiar spirits” (KJV). Bob Jones has claimed very publically that the spirit of a deceased Indian monk, Sundar Singh, has appeared and ministered to him many times. He has also introduced Todd Bentley to this spirit. 1 Jn 4; 1 tells us “do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God”. So is this spirit sent from God or a deceiving spirit sent by the devil? So is this Christianity or spiritualism?

Concerning Angelic encounters: In “Angelic Hosts 2003” Bentley writes “Bob...told me that Emma was the angel that helped birth and start the whole prophetic movement in Kansas City in the 1980’s...she floated a couple of inches off the floor. It was almost like Kathryn Kuhlman in those old videos”. Does this sound like the angels described in the bible? As 2 Cor 11; 14 tells us that “Satan... transforms himself into an angel of light” we must ask - have Bentley and Jones been experiencing angels sent from God or fallen angels?

Deceased Christians becoming angels: The “God Channel” promoted a conference this May called “Honouring the Mothers” to celebrate Mothers Day. This occasion focused on honouring Christian lady ministers who have in died the past, e.g. Kathryn Kuhlman. What many people don’t realise though is that the two main leaders behind these meetings believe that we should be seeking ministry from the spirits of these deceased Christian women, who they believe return to earth as angels.

This is identical to the beliefs of Jones and Bentley who seek ministry from the spirits of Sundar Singh and Emma. The two leaders I’m referring to here are Rick Joyner and Gwen Shaw. Is this a coincidence or is Mothers Day being used by Joyner and Gwen to subtly introduce such beliefs into the church? And if so do they realise that this is identical to the practice of spiritualism which is forbidden in the bible?

Spreading these ideas: It is clear from his book “The Final Quest” that Rick Joyner believes he is called to convert the rest of the church to these beliefs. He even claims that it is the dead returning to earth as angelic beings, (great white eagles), that will enable him to do this. Joyner states that he will command these spirits of the dead into spiritual warfare against other Christians to cause them to yield and start accepting Joyner’s leadership and spiritual practices, (see p’s 16, 17, 22, and 65). Some think that that is extremely controlling.

Receiving messages from the dead: Both Todd Bentley and Rick Joyner claim to visit heaven during their visionary experiences and whilst there believe they receive prophetic messages from the Apostle Paul. In “The Final Quest” Joyner even claims that “St Paul” told him that the N/T Apostles had failed in their callings and that we should not trust the parts of the bible written by them, (see p’s 133-135). But don’t genuine prophetic messages always agree with the bible and come directly from the Holy Spirit not through departed saints? So is this of Gods Spirit or have these ministries been deceived by false visions from an occult spirit?

Another spirit: Most of us are aware that there is an alternative spirituality to Gods Holy Spirit. Those involved in the occult move in a form of words of knowledge, predictions, occult reiki healings and miracles and also experience spirits claiming to be angels or the dead returning to earth. New Agers are not moving in the Holy Spirit though but are being led astray by occult spirits. 2 Thess 2; 9 warns us that before Christ return “the working of Satan” will increase “with all power, signs, and lying wonders” so many Christians could get deceived too.

Is occult power real today? Acts 8: 9 -11 gives us a church age example; “Simon... practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people” who said “This man is the great power of God”...”And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries”. In Ex Ch 7 of the Old Testament we also read how Pharaohs magicians were even able to duplicate several of the great miracles of Moses. And the Book of Revelation says that at the end of this age the false prophet “performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men”, and that “he deceives those who dwell on the earth by those signs”, (Rev Ch 13: 13, 14). As 2 Thess 2; 3 warn us of a “falling away” of believers we surely need to be very careful. Deceiving spirits could be passed on to us by reading books, or by the laying on of hands, by deceived Christians who are moving in such influences themselves, (see video e.g. of this)

A counterfeit gifting; In a video on Todd Bentleys own website (which has since been removed unfortunately, like most of his controversial videos), Bentley preached – I don’t move in the gifts of the Spirit… the gifts have to be initiated by the Holy Spirit…I move in the seven spirits of God instead…this gives you the whole council of God. He claims he can switch this gifting on and off at will. Derek Prince, wrote; “Today I tremble inwardly when I see or hear of a person who claims that he has spiritual gifts which he is free to use just as he pleases. It is surely no accident that some of those who have made such claims have ended in serious doctrinal error”, taken from “Protection from Deception”, Derek Prince, 1996.

Visions from God or the demonic? Even Mike Bickle, the pastor of this Kansas group, originally thought that Bob Jones visions were coming from a demon. Jones experienced up to a dozen multicoloured visions a night which first started whilst he was an inpatient in a mental hospital. However Bickle then started experiencing similar things himself. We know though that demonic influences can be transferred by close contact between people so is that what happened here? Bickle now runs the International House of Prayer, (IHOP), set up after another prophecy from Bob Jones, through this the Kansas City Prophets are now influencing many intercession ministries. The “World Prayer Centre” in the UK now broadcasts these IHOP meetings in their own prayer room. As this is spreading these ministries need to be weighed up as a matter of urgency.

False predictions: This Kansas group have also made many false predictions. For e.g. in 1990 Paul Cain along with several of these other “prophets” predicted that a great global revival would start in the UK that year and be led John Wimber – nothing happened. Bob Jones prophesised only last year that Todd Bentley was about to start a global 3rd wave revival on the 08.08.08 which turned out to be the time that Bentley was exposed for adultery instead and was forced stepped down from ministry.

False teaching: There’s not room to study this here but if you go online you can check and see that most of the Kansas prophets new visionary “revelations” and “teachings” usually contradict the bible. For e.g. in “The Final Quest” (p. 128), Joyner states that God will raise up prophet judges, (including himself), to rule over the church in the end times. Others have promoted the “Manifests Sons of God” teaching, which states that some believers will receive their resurrection bodies and rule in this age before the return of Christ. 1 Tim 4; 1 warns us that many Christians will start “giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons", so are these ministries receiving counterfeit visions and false teachings from occult spirits? And was it wise for the “God Channel” to ask Mike Bickle and Rick Joyner to lead teaching on the end times only last April?

Bad fruit: Way back in 1991, just after John Wimber had taken the Kansas City prophets under his wing, he had to discipline several members who were found to be involved in sexual immorality. Then their leading prophet, Bob Jones, had to step down from ministry for a long season after he admitted using his spiritual gifts to manipulate and solicit sexual favours from women in his congregation. More recently there was Paul Cain’s homosexual activity and Todd Bentley’s adultery. God forgives but Matt 7; 16 also states that “You will know them by their fruits”. So is it wise for the “God Channel “to keep drawing from this group?

Other ministries: In Matt 24.24 Jesus warned us that deception would increase towards the end of this age “to deceive, if possible, even the elect”, (that’s us), and 2 Thess 2: 3 predicts a great apostasy and “falling away” of believers from the faith. So is this what is starting to occur today? Many ministries are suddenly reporting a new type of spiritual anointing coming upon them, indeed this is also claimed by Wendy Alec. I believe God will be moving more powerfully in the end times but are the things described above from God or the deceptions the bible warns us about? Surely we need to test all such claims?

An e.g: Barbie Breathitt, a Christian lady, who claims to be “a professional dream interpreter”, said in an interview, (on Sid Roths “Its Supernatural” TV program on Aug 11-17, 2008), that she has been moving in a different type of spiritual anointing since she started going to occult festivals. She reports that she dresses up as a New Ager, rents booths alongside those that the witches use, and interprets dreams for people involved in the occult. The interview ends with an advert selling her dream interpretation kit to Christians for $20 each. We should be testing such claims with the gift of “discerning of spirits”, (1 Cor 12: 10). Has she mistakenly opened up to, and started moving in, the New Age /occult anointing herself? (link to transcript).

Other areas of deception: The interview above was also being promoted on the “Elijah List” by Steve Shultz. He’s another well intentioned Christian with much influence but who also lacks discernment. Like the Alecs’ Shultz also chose Paul Cain as a spiritual adviser whilst Cain was engaged in his secret homosexual lifestyle. Shultz also promoted Bentley last year, believing everything Bentley said without appearing to test anything. I feel led to finish here by drawing attention to Patricia King’s ministry and her interest in gold dust and the pursuit of angels. I believe in angels too but focusing on them instead of the Lord can open one up to experiencing fallen angels instead. I believe the Christian media will soon be promoting many deceived Christian ministries and a flood of their deceptive encounters with fallen angels + many waves of deception.

Conclusion: Each person must decide for themselves but we should surely consider Matt 24:24 which tell’s us that towards the end of this age “false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect”. 1 Jn 2: 19 tells us that “They went out from us, but they were not of us” implying that many of these people will start out from within the church as “Christians”. So are false prophets now starting to emerge amongst us? Or should we just be praying for these people as any one of us can get deceived? The saying “but for the grace of God there go I” is always very poignant. One thing is for certain - we cannot trust the “God Channel” or the Christian media to decide for us, so we must each test these things for ourselves with discernment, in prayer, and against scripture just as the bible has always taught.

May God bless you, (any prayer support for posting out this article is greatly appreciated).

S. Dobbs, updated 2nd July 2009. All scriptures were taken from the N.K.J.V.

For prophecies which relate to this and other issues try www.propheciesfortoday.uk.com

 

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